Chiefs want to hit ground running in new season

Kaizer Chiefs defender Given Msimango says it is important for Amakhosi to hit the ground running when the new league season starts this weekend.

Following a dismal campaign last season, in which they finished 10th on the log, Amakhosi will kick-off the 2024-2025 season with a match against Marumo Gallants in Bloemfontein on Saturday afternoon.

It’s a new season and new beginnings for Kaizer Chiefs. The team has undergone changes in the technical department and among the playing personnel.

Tunisian Nasreddine Nabi has been roped in to steady the ship, bringing along with him, his backroom staff.

It has been nine seasons since Chiefs last won an official trophy and Msimango says they want to lay down the marker, starting with Saturday’s match.

“A good start to the league is very important, you hear the cliche it’s not how you start but how you finish but at Chiefs it’s very important to start well to set the tone very high for ourselves, to give ourselves momentum for the next block of games going into the month of September. I think we are playing four or five matches if I am not mistaken,” says Msimango.

Amakhosi will start the season on the back foot due to the delayed start to the Betway Premiership season. The team has not played an official match in three and a half months, but Msimango says the conditioning team has ensured that their fitness levels are up to scratch.

“I think the fans and people at large should have faith in the technical team. We have quality conditioning coach who has ensured that our fitness levels are on par to where we need to be at this stage of the season. It has been a long pre-season but I think we have dealt with it very well and the preparation games have given us an idea of where we are as a team.”

One of the new signings is defender, Inacio Miguel, who joined the team from Angolan giants, Petro de Luanda.

He revealed that Nabi and former Cape Town City and Petro de Luanda goalkeeper, Hugo Marques, convinced him to join Amakhosi.

“He just told me don’t think twice Chiefs is the biggest club in SA and Africa and that if I want something different and a new challenge in my career there is no better club than Chiefs. Hugo Marquez also forced me to move here and it makes me happy also,” says Miguel.

The 28-year-old joined the Glamour Boys after winning the double with Petro last season. He says one of the main reasons he joined the club was to help them return to their former glory.

“We cannot focus on the past because if we do, we will not do anything different. Our focus must be the future and that’s what made me move here and understand that the club wants to change and do something different. They didn’t achieve in the past and it’s the reason I am here trying to do something different and help my teammates and it’s the main reason why I moved.”

Kaizer Chiefs and Marumo Gallants clash at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday afternoon and kick-off is at 5:30 pm.

Video: Soccer – Chiefs wants a bright start to a new season